Johns Creek City Council Meeting – September 22, 2025

On September 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., the Johns Creek City Council met at City Hall (11360 Lakefield Drive) for its regular meeting. Councilmembers Toonkey, Skinner, Aramelli, Coughlin, D.Biassi, and Elwood were present, and the mayor declared a quorum. The council approved the consent agenda, heard public comment, denied a Dutch Bros drive-through coffee shop rezoning/variance at 8483 Holcomb Bridge Road, and approved appointments to the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the September 8, 2025 work session summary and council meeting minutes as presented.
• Councilmember Coughlin moved to amend the agenda to add a public hearing to old business item L.1; Councilmember D.Biassi seconded, and the amendment was approved.
• The consent agenda was approved as presented: O2025-09-27, an ordinance to amend the FY25 budget; a construction contract with Summit Construction for $8,937,638; a CEI contract with Atlas Technical Consultants for $354,200; a 10 percent construction contingency; and an intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County for the Barnwell Road Corridor Improvements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kim Cordom, a neighbor, alleged that John Bradbury destroyed a stormwater channel and detention pond behind her property without city permits, causing her backyard to flood and hold standing water for days. She said complaints to the city, Fulton County, and the HOA were unanswered and that she has receipts, photos, and a pending public records request.
• An unnamed resident opposed using $20 million in cash on hand to partially fund a performing arts center, comparing it to a teenager buying an iPhone without explaining the money’s source. He argued that equipment reserves and operating reserves are restricted, that GFOA recommends at least two months of operating reserve to maintain the city’s triple-A bond rating, and that the project could put public safety and the rating at risk.
• In the second public comment period, Manisha, a resident off McGuinness, said bike paths are essentially nonexistent and asked whether the city has a plan for bike connectivity.
• Dietra Pickens praised Police Chief Mitchell’s March 28, 2025 memo requesting equipment for officers and criticized what she called a $500,000 wish-list fountain, saying police needs are not a wish list and that police and citizens deserve better.

Manager’s Monthly Report and Announcements

• City Manager Greer presented August highlights tied to five strategic priorities: arts and culture, public safety, economic development, recreation and parks, and transportation and connectivity. Highlights included a Public Safety Academy graduation, five probationary firefighters starting a 37-week EMT program, the Biz Lab business accelerator, park improvements, and completion of the Jones Bridge Road project.
• Greer also noted two upcoming performing arts center bond referendum community meetings: October 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Park Place and October 16 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.
• Mayor’s remarks announced a boardwalk sneak peek at Town Center Park on September 30 at 5:30 p.m., the fourth annual Diwali market on October 11 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., and that U.S. Postal Service address labels will now prefer Johns Creek as the last line.
• Councilmembers asked staff to look into dead trees at Newtown Park and the cost of temporary Cauley Creek field striping; the City Manager said she would follow up.
• Announcements included the October 1 performing arts center meeting, an October 2 at 7:00 p.m. public information meeting on the Medlock Bridge/State Bridge intersection, and an October 6 work session at 5:00 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. council meeting.

Old Business — RZ-24-0012 / VC-24-0009 (8483 Holcomb Bridge Road)

• The public hearing was added to the agenda by motion and conducted with 10 minutes per side. Director Song presented the request to rezone a 10.428-acre C-1 property at 8483 Holcomb Bridge Road to C-1 with a concurrent variance reducing required outparcel frontage from 200 feet to 108.42 feet along Holcomb Bridge Road. The proposed use was a 950-square-foot Dutch Bros drive-through-only coffee shop with a 337-square-foot covered patio, 13 parking spaces, 15-vehicle stacking, sidewalks, and crosswalks. Access would be internal to Rivermont Station with no new curb cuts onto Holcomb Bridge Road.
• The existing site includes the Rivermont Station shopping center, a two-suite commercial building, a drive-through emissions testing station, and a bank ATM, totaling 40,480 square feet of building area and 242 parking spaces. Staff and the Planning Commission both recommended approval with conditions. The transcript contains a minor date discrepancy for the Planning Commission hearing: Director Song said March 4, 2025, while applicant counsel said March 3, 2025.
• Applicant counsel Alex Brock (Smith Gambrell Russell, for Rivermont Station 2 LLC / Phillips Edison) supported approval. He said the proposal was only a site-plan condition modification, not a new use, and that no design changes had been made since the hearing; two prior deferrals were related to Dutch Bros negotiations on an out-of-state site and unresolved tenant issues. He said the emissions tenant’s lease had been terminated and relocation was outside the zoning case. He cited 358 daily trips versus about 46,000 average daily trips on Holcomb Bridge Road, less than 0.8 percent, and argued pass-by capture would further reduce net new traffic.
• Opponents John Stroop, Angeli Singh, Joseph Gadelski, and Tashiana Travis opposed approval. They cited existing traffic congestion and safety at the signalized entrance, 300 to 350 additional cars, displacement of Buffalo Emissions and its operator after 15 years, the area’s already numerous coffee shops, and inconsistency with the city’s small-business retention priority. Gadelski also noted Dutch Bros’ national expansion statistics, including 1,043 locations, 151 opened in the previous year, and a stated goal of 2,029 by 2029.
• Council members questioned the applicant about lack of traffic study data, the success and queue situation at the Medlock Bridge Dutch Bros, internal circulation, and whether the shopping center’s signalized entrance could handle additional trips. The applicant offered to accept a condition for a traffic study and signal analysis before issuance of a land development permit and said 90 days would allow the work. Director Song said a deferral would need at least 60 to 90 days.
• Councilmember D.Biassi moved to deny the rezoning and variance as presented; Councilmember Aramelli seconded. During discussion, D.Biassi cited repeated deferrals and said the public should not go through another 90-day deferral. The motion carried with all in favor.

New Business — Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee

• The council approved Resolution R2025-09-23 to appoint members to the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee as proposed in items A, B, C, and D. Councilmembers thanked the residents for volunteering.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the September 8, 2025 minutes.
• Approved the agenda amendment adding a public hearing to old business item L.1.
• Approved the consent agenda, including the FY25 budget amendment, Barnwell Road project contracts and contingency, and the Fulton County intergovernmental agreement.
• Denied RZ-24-0012 / VC-24-0009, the Dutch Bros coffee shop at 8483 Holcomb Bridge Road.
• Approved Resolution R2025-09-23 appointing Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee members.
• No executive session was held; the meeting was adjourned.